Ain't No Grave

So I've been meaning to post about this for a while now. There's a new Johnny Cash jam called "Ain't No Grave" up on iTunes but more importantly it's streaming on his myspace page if you're not on lala yet...

This is amongst the last sessions he ever did with Rick Rubin before his death, and really I haven't heard J.R. sound quite so ominous ever. Maybe it's because he's accepted the inevitability of his death and is saying to all of us future listeners that even the grave can't hold him down. Creepier and more metaphysical still is the fact that we are now those present future listeners listening to the moribund (even in life) chant of the dead man, Mr. Cash, making these statements. A total mind-fuck, and just another excellent song by the godfather of goth.

CORRECTION: Ain't No Grave is actually a traditional, most notably performed by the late great Odetta. Sorry for my ignorance.

Long Time No See

Hello Children, it's been too long and I apologize. Things were extremely hectic.



I was inspired by a couple things going on, first the ATP NY 2010 announcement...gosh darnit if only I had the coin. Small bands like:

Iggy and the Stooges (doing Raw Power)
Explosions in the Sky
Breeders
Sonic Youth
Not one but two of the ironic Fuck bands - Fucked Up and Fuck Buttons
Brian Jonestown
etc.

Jim Jarmusch curated, well played.

But really most impressively SCIENTISTS from down unda, in their first US appearance apparently, performing one of my favorite lost gems, "Blood Red River."



In order to fulfill my quota of Nick Cave references, without further ado...
Along with Nick Cave (maybe before him), Kim Salmon of Scientists had a band called Cheap Nasties which was one of the first Australian punk bands. Really opened the flood gates for some genius shit, I don't think I have to sit here and tell you how rad Radio Birdman, The Saints and the Birthday Party were.

Scientists have that gnarly blues gothic post-punk sound that I adore, definitely more "rock & roll" than the Birthday Party, and a good place to start for someone looking to break their ears in to that aggro noisy sound. Maybe this is pushing it, but it's something like a cross between Mudhoney and Gun Club.

As penance for my long absence...here's some extra credit. These dudes are just so goddamm good at life.